Live coverage: Donald Trump's first criminal trial, Day Two
Donald Trump has arrived at the Manhattan courtroom of Judge Juan Merchan for the second day of his criminal trial over falsifying business records connected to hush money payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. On Monday, Merchan ruled on several motions from each side and set a hearing date of April 23 for the issue of whether Trump is in violation of his gag order. Merchan kept up a brisk pace in the afternoon, bringing in the first 96 potential jurors before dismissing more than half of them with a single question over their ability to be fair and impartial in this case. The afternoon ended with the first 18 of the remaining potential jurors answering preliminary questions. Merchan is expected to try to keep Tuesday centered on juror selection. With a reported 500 potential jurors to process, there should be no problem finding enough to fill the jury box, but just getting through them all is going to be an effort. UPDATE: Tuesday, Apr 16, 2024 · 2:39:50 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner As MSNBC’s Katie Phang notes, a lot of today (and next week) may end up with little drama other than the slow parade of potential jurors and the occasionally amusing answer to a question. But this could be the most critical part of the trial. Katie's Sidebar: Jury selection can be a long, tedious process. However, it is one of the most, if not THE most, important part of a jury trial. So, as the days go by with voir dire continuing, there may not be a lot of fireworks, but it's truly our fellow Americans doing…— Katie Phang (@KatiePhang) April 16, 2024 Just think of it this way: It may not be as entertaining as testimony, but Trump has to sit through it all. UPDATE: Tuesday, Apr 16, 2024 · 2:35:57 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner You have to like the way that every time Merchan addresses the defendant, he just says “Mr. Trump.” UPDATE: Tuesday, Apr 16, 2024 · 2:34:38 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner And another … Another juror self-reports that he thought about it and may not be able to be impartial. Excused.— Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) April 16, 2024 It’s a good thing they have such a large number of potentials for this case. They had to know this was going to happen. UPDATE: Tuesday, Apr 16, 2024 · 2:32:24 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner Yesterday, Merchan had indicated that the day would start with a Sandoval hearing during which Donald Trump would informed about what it means when a defendant testifies in his own defense. But so far this morning this hasn’t come up. Unclear if this is just a change in schedule or if the defense has said something to Merchan about Trump’s likelihood of testifying. Trump attorney Will Scharf on why he thinks Trump should testify in the criminal hush money trial: pic.twitter.com/br0696IgJI— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) April 16, 2024 UPDATE: Tuesday, Apr 16, 2024 · 2:27:45 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner One other potential juror has been excused today because of illness, and a short while ago one more of the original set was sent home. A potential juror who self-reported that he may have "unconscious bias" because of Republican relatives has been excused.— Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) April 16, 2024 What remains of this first group is almost through the 42 initial questions. A second group of potential jurors is likely to be seated shortly. UPDATE: Tuesday, Apr 16, 2024 · 2:24:39 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner Court was a little delayed getting started this morning for a reason that took a few minutes to clear up. NEW: At the end of yesterday afternoon, only 9 potential jurors were in the jury box. Two of them yet to arrive this morning, so Merchan has decided to proceed with jury selection without them. And the expected 9:30 am Sandoval hearing? On hold apparently with nary a word.— Lisa Rubin (@lawofruby) April 16, 2024 Finally, Judge Merchan decided to move along without them. Judge Merchan doesn't want to delay any longer so he is going to get going and the two missing/delayed jurors will be included in the later groups.— Katie Phang (@KatiePhang) April 16, 2024 It’s safe to say that these two are going to get A Talkin’ To. Now that he’s in a criminal trial, Trump is not leaving his life in the hands of Alina Habba or Rudy Giuliani. Trump is seated between his attorneys Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, who are both alumni of the Southern District of New York's U.S. Attorney's office.— Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) April 16, 2024
JoriPress
Donald Trump has arrived at the Manhattan courtroom of Judge Juan Merchan for the second day of his criminal trial over falsifying business records connected to hush money payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
On Monday, Merchan ruled on several motions from each side and set a hearing date of April 23 for the issue of whether Trump is in violation of his gag order. Merchan kept up a brisk pace in the afternoon, bringing in the first 96 potential jurors before dismissing more than half of them with a single question over their ability to be fair and impartial in this case. The afternoon ended with the first 18 of the remaining potential jurors answering preliminary questions.
Merchan is expected to try to keep Tuesday centered on juror selection. With a reported 500 potential jurors to process, there should be no problem finding enough to fill the jury box, but just getting through them all is going to be an effort.
As MSNBC’s Katie Phang notes, a lot of today (and next week) may end up with little drama other than the slow parade of potential jurors and the occasionally amusing answer to a question. But this could be the most critical part of the trial.
Just think of it this way: It may not be as entertaining as testimony, but Trump has to sit through it all.
You have to like the way that every time Merchan addresses the defendant, he just says “Mr. Trump.”
And another …
It’s a good thing they have such a large number of potentials for this case. They had to know this was going to happen.
Yesterday, Merchan had indicated that the day would start with a Sandoval hearing during which Donald Trump would informed about what it means when a defendant testifies in his own defense. But so far this morning this hasn’t come up. Unclear if this is just a change in schedule or if the defense has said something to Merchan about Trump’s likelihood of testifying.
One other potential juror has been excused today because of illness, and a short while ago one more of the original set was sent home.
What remains of this first group is almost through the 42 initial questions. A second group of potential jurors is likely to be seated shortly.
Court was a little delayed getting started this morning for a reason that took a few minutes to clear up.
Finally, Judge Merchan decided to move along without them.
It’s safe to say that these two are going to get A Talkin’ To.
Now that he’s in a criminal trial, Trump is not leaving his life in the hands of Alina Habba or Rudy Giuliani.
